Airline policy reflected in society

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A primary
school headmaster says the policies of Air New Zealand and Qantas
not to let men sit next to unaccompanied youngsters on flights is
part of an attitude that drives men away from teaching.

The policy
came to light after a man seated next to a child was asked to
change seats with a woman sitting in another row.

Auckland
man Mark Worsley said he was told by a flight attendant from Qantas
that the airline's policy stipulated that only women should sit
next to unaccompanied children.

A Qantas
spokesman confirmed the airline does not allow unaccompanied
children to sit next to men and Air New Zealand says it has a
similar policy.

The
principal of Stratford Primary School, Kelvin Squire, says the
policy is part of an attitude that drives men away from
teaching.

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Squire
says the chronic shortage of male teachers can be blamed on a
society that automatically questions the motives of men who want to
teach children. He says it's ultimately the children who suffer at
a time when children need male role models more than ever.

The
airlines say their rules reflect the concerns of parents as well as
child safety issues. But men's groups says the decision reflects a
growing discrimination against the male sex.

Richard
Ashton, chief executive of Big Buddy - a charity that matches
men as mentors to fatherless children - says such decisions are
creating a world which segregates men from children.

Green
Party MP Keith Locke says the policy is a clear breach of human
rights and presumes that men cannot be trusted.

The acting
Human Rights Commissioner says Air New Zealand and Qantas could
have a case to answer for unlawful discrimination against men.